What're your thoughts about ecu for 96 G50

[1996QShip]

So I'm not too interested in making my G50 faster. But I wonder if a new ECU may improve gas milage etc.? I guess the 96 is unique as it lacks VVT. So I wonder if I would need a year specific model. I wonder how much it would be? Seems like I have too much time on my hands....

[qship96]

96 and newer vehicles use obd2 vs older obd1 engine control computers- the obd2 ecu is a much smarter and complex ecu, and older ecu are totally incompatable with them. Even with 276,000 miles on my 96, I regularly get 22.0000-22.5 mpg on highway driving, with AC on, and average speeds of 75-80mph.....about all you can expect given the weight and old tech 4 speed auto transmission gearing.

[1996QShip]

What octane do you use?

[qship96]

93 only.......used sunoco 94 octane only for the first 150,000 miles until they quit offering it when Maryland banned MTBE and went to 10% ethanol {around 2005}

[1996QShip]

Now this is weird. Went to Autozone to run OBD. The salesman told me I have OBD 1 as the production date is 1995 on my car. I wonder if he's lying to me? Then I'm wondering if a NICO ECU would work to improve mileage/ performance of my car? What y'all think?

[OwnerCS]

To quote Heath from an older post "although the '96 is OBDII, Nissan kept dual diagnostic connections on the early OBDII models".

The guy may not realize it is backward compatible to OBD1.

[1996QShip]

Ah.... What does that mean? Can I buy an OBD 2 to check codes on my car?

[OwnerCS]

I think both OBD1 and OBD2 types will work. Depends on how much you want to invest in diagnostic tools.

[qship96]

ALL 1996 models are OBD2, period- forget obd1, as you do NOT have it- does not matter that your car was produced in mid or late 1995, it is a 1996, and ALL 1996 cars {regardless of make, model, where built, that were legal to sell in USA by law had to have the obd2 system. The 1990-1995 model year obd1 computer is 100% incompatable with your car- get yourself a cheaper model Actron obd2 code reader, about $50 when on sale at the advance , zone,pepboy type store in your area- it will tell you pretty much exactly what any issues you will ever have are.

[qship96]

Now this is weird. Went to Autozone to run OBD. The salesman told me I have OBD 1 as the production date is 1995 on my car. I wonder if he's lying to me? Then I'm wondering if a NICO ECU would work to improve mileage/ performance of my car? What y'all think?

He is an idiot

[1996QShip]

That's what I was thinking too

[maxnix]

Kind of an early warning system for owners seeking assistance from the unqualified and incompetent. Next time it may cost you dearly. Caveat Emptor!